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Spleáchas vs. Neamhspleáchas Hotting Up in Scotland Posted by róislín on Sep 18, 2014
(le Róislín) A timely time to look at the Irish word for ‘independence’ as the “vótáil” for the Scottish Referendum comes down the home stretch. Much like the English word “independence,” the Irish equivalent, “neamhspleáchas,” is also a compound word. Knowing that probably makes it a lot easier to pronounce, and, as it were, digest…
How To Say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ in Irish – Let Me Count The Ways Posted by róislín on Sep 15, 2014
(le Róislín) Actually I can’t really count the number of ways. As I mentioned in a recent blog, there are thousands of ways to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in Irish. Remember, almost every verb in Irish can be used to formulate a yes- or no-answer. And the good news is … some of them are…
How to say ‘Scottish,’ ‘Scotland,’ and ‘Scot’ in Irish (and how about ‘scot-free’?) Posted by róislín on Sep 12, 2014
(le Róislín) As the Scottish Referendum vote comes ever closer, let’s look at some of the basic terms for Scotland itself, the Scottish people, and some specifically Scottish things. For the latter, I mean things actually labeled Scottish, or as it sometimes occurs, “Scotch.” I don’t mean things we simply associate with Scotland, like “haggis.”…
How to say “Yes Vote” and “No Vote” in Irish (with a nod to the Gàidhlig) Posted by róislín on Sep 8, 2014
(le Róislín) So I’ve been listening and listening to the coverage of the Scottish independence vote. While this blog is not really a platform for polaitíocht, it does give us an opportunity to look at the words “yes” and “no” in Irish, with a brief comparison to Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig). With most languages I’ve studied…
‘Ubh Fhriochta,’ ‘Uibheacha Friochta,’ or ‘na hUibhe Friochta’? (which egg term to use when, in Irish) Posted by róislín on Sep 3, 2014
(le Róislín) Definitely variations on a theme of fried eggs! Not, by the way, the “fried egg” otherwise known as the “sandalled anemone,” which is “bundún nóinín mór,” and which is not, afaik, inite (edible). Tuilleadh eolais ar an anamóine sin sa nóta thíos. And, for a second “by the way,” we’ll also look briefly…
Uibheacha Friochta and other ‘egg’ terms in Irish Posted by róislín on Aug 30, 2014
(le Róislín) Last blog we talked about “ispíní” and other breakfast foods, including some brief references to “uibheacha friochta,” “uibheacha scrofa,” “uibheacha scallta,” and “uibheacha bogbhruite.” Let’s take a look at a few more terms referring to eggs, ways to cook them, types of eggs, and maybe a seanfhocal or two. Can you think of…
Speaking of ‘ispíní” and other breakfast foods in Irish Posted by róislín on Aug 25, 2014
(le Róislín) I’ll take “an tsiosarnach” and “an t-ispín,” please. Trying to “have” my “císte” and eat it too, I guess. So, yes, although most of the time I try to have breakfast foods like iógart, múslaí, torthaí, and leite (le coirce “cruach-ghearrtha is fearr!), I have to admit I’m reasonably fond of the bricfeasta…